Common Marine Electrical Problems (and How a Shop Diagnoses Them)
Saltwater air corrodes every connection it can reach. Most 'engine won't start' calls aren't engine problems — they're voltage-drop problems.
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The big four we see
- Corroded battery terminals or grounds (voltage drop across the lug)
- Failing battery switch — internal contacts arc-pit over time
- Tinned wire that wasn't actually tinned — copper turns green inside the heat shrink
- Bilge pump float switches stuck open or closed
How a shop hunts it down
A meter and a load tester, not guesswork. We measure voltage drop under load at every junction from battery to load — wherever you lose more than 0.2V, that's your problem.
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Related Guides
Parasitic drain, bad ground, dying alternator, or just heat? How to find why your boat battery won't hold a charge.
The five most common 'won't start' calls we get from Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Ft. Pierce — and what to check before you call a mechanic.